Attendees from throughout the floral supply chain gathered June 7 in Anaheim, CA, for Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Connections: Floral Anaheim event. Buyers and suppliers alike connected at receptions and learned how to identify trends, understand implications, and explore options for innovation to take advantage of said trends with Lisa Feierstein, trend strategist at TrendWatching in New York City.   {igallery id=6329|cid=352|pid=1|type=categ... Read more

On July 4th, America celebrates 242 years of independence with fireworks, picnics and parades. It’s a special holiday when the nation can revel in the incredible freedoms that it is blessed to enjoy. In this edition, we report on the growth of the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation that honors those who’ve paid the price for our freedom by placing 460,000 flowers on the graves of veterans across the country. This tribute is made possible through the efforts of all... Read more

Freesia is one of the unsung heroes of the floral industry. And now that I’ve mentioned it to you, you will probably start to notice it everywhere. Have you ever heard of the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon? According to HowStuffWorks.com the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon —- otherwise known as frequency illusion or recency illusion -— occurs when the thing you’ve just noticed, experienced, or been told about, suddenly crops up constantly. It gives you the feeling that out... Read more

Airglades Airport, a municipal airport 55 miles east of Fort Myers and 100 miles northwest of Miami International Airport, is poised to become a multi-billion-dollar commercial hub for perishable cargo from South America, according to a news release. Backers say the airport’s location on a major trucking route places it in the ideal spot for players with industry knowledge. Flying fresh flowers into Airglades instead of Miami means truckers can start their drives... Read more

The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation was established in 2011 and it works with local organizers and thousands of volunteers to place flowers on gravesites at national, veterans and local cemeteries on Memorial Day weekend. Seven years ago, the foundation coordinated the donation of 10,000 stems at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. This year, MDFF placed 210,000 flowers at ANC and another 250,000 stems at 41 other U.S. cemeteries. “It’s grown so much,”... Read more

Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, and Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, have both been longtime supporters of American flower and foliage farmers. Working together in 2017, Senators Feinstein and Murkowski co-sponsored and passed a senate resolution declaring July American Grown Flowers Month. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, meets with American flower and foliage farmers to hear their concerns in February in Washington, D.C. Photo credit: Nony Park of Ken Pak Photography.Recently,... Read more

The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers will hold its National Conference and Trade Show Sept. 24-26 at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown in Raleigh, NC. This year the association will also be celebrating its 30th anniversary, according to a news release. The event will kick off with a one-day Beginning Growers’ School at Sassafras Fork Farm in Rougemont, which is limited to 125 attendees. The day will wrap up with a dinner and barn dance for attendees. ... Read more

minneapolis — Every July, Koehler & Dramm Wholesale Florist, here, is dedicated to giving back by donating a portion of rose sales for the month to charity organizations. Since 2015, Operation Homefront has been the focus of the company’s flower fundraiser. Koehler & Dramm pledges to donate two cents for every rose stem sold in July to Operation Homefront through its Roses for Soldiers campaign. “After researching our options, we chose to partner with Operation... Read more

Last year, Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of the Society of American Florists’ Annual Convention in Palm Beach, FL, so this year they’ll be convening in the desert during SAF Palm Springs Sept. 12-15 at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA. “It’s been way too long since I’ve seen some of my dearest friends and colleagues,” Cheryl Denham, chief executive officer and owner at Arizona Family Florist in Phoenix, said in a press release. “I have left... Read more

Because of the British royal wedding in May, the Sun Valley Group in Arcata, CA, believes Meghan Markle’s monochromatic white bouquet style and the “straight from the garden” aesthetic will surge in popularity — not only in weddings, but in all things floral. So the company is launching its own interpretation of the bouquet, myrtle sprig and all. The tradition of adding a stem of myrtle to a bouquet goes back to Princess Victoria’s wedding in February of 1840.... Read more

The Congressional Club hosted the 106th annual First Lady’s Luncheon on May 15 for nearly 2,000 people at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., and it was the third time that Certified American Grown provided all the flowers for the bipartisan event, according to a press release. Kelly Shore, owner at Petals by the Shore, and Mary Kate Kinanne, owner at The Local Bouquet, led the design team effort of 32 volunteer designers. Photo credit: Kirstin Smith Photography.First... Read more

The Society of American Florists’ 1-Day Profit Blast is heading to Green Bay, WI, on July 15, according to a news release. Sponsored by the Bill Doran Co., the event covers design profitability, online selling, technology and management education in an eight-hour program along with a Supplier Showcase where floral industry vendors share their newest products. “This is an easy, one-day gathering that everyone should take in,” said Jenny Behlings in the release,... Read more

The American Floral Endowment will hold its 42nd Annual Fundraising Dinner on Sept. 13 from 6-9 p.m. at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA, during the Society of American Florists’ Annual Convention. AFE will hold its 42nd Annual Fundraising Dinner on Sept. 13 from 6-9 p.m., during the Society of American Florists’ Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA.The theme of this year’s event is “Shining Stars: Bright Future,” according to a press release. It... Read more

The Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association’s Management Institute will take place Aug. 1-3 at the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview in Newport Beach, CA. The Management Institute, held annually, provides an educational opportunity for members to focus on a compelling business topic for two days, according to a press release.  The comprehensive two-day program features intensive education and plenty of networking and interactive segments. In... Read more

Bower & Branch, a group of independent growers and garden retailers throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest announced that it will locate its annual membership meeting at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH, prior to the industry tradeshow Cultivate through 2020, according to a press release. “We are excited to make this commitment to hold our annual meeting at Cultivate for the next three years,” said Sid Raisch, president... Read more

Americans’ love affair with the rose has lasted for centuries and it continues to grow with 85 percent of people claiming the rose as their favorite flower. Roses are currently the top-selling flower in the United States — based on stem count — and it is estimated that Americans purchase nearly two billion roses annually. A few weeks ago, millions of roses were given to honored moms on Mother’s Day; and now it’s National Rose Month — so how will you celebrate the... Read more

Since June is National Rose Month, now is the perfect time for a refresher on the symbolic meanings behind the different colors of roses. But where and when did the color meaning of roses originate? Jack Goody, in his book “The Culture of Flowers,” said that giving meanings to flowers originally came from the east. Also called floriography, the art of speaking with flowers began in Persia where illiterate women in the Ottoman palace harems used flowers to communicate,... Read more

Do you find yourself going through more helium than normal or using more than you think you should be? On the wake of another shortage, providers are starting to send out helium allocation letters, alerting companies that they won’t be receiving the amount of helium that they ordered. So, make sure your employees are taking the right steps to ensure you’re saving helium rather than wasting it, especially when supplies are tightening. Use these three incredibly... Read more

For Westerlay Orchids in Carpinteria, CA, the 10th Annual Carpinteria Greenhouse and Nursery Tour was as much about cultivating young minds as it was showing off the plants grown in its state-of-the-art greenhouse. Proceeds from all Westerlay retail sales collected throughout the week preceding the event will be directed into the classrooms of Aliso Elementary School. President Toine Overgaag said supporting public education and youth organizations in the community... Read more

With spring upon us, many consumers are once again exploring the wonderful world of ornamental plants and flowers as they prepare their gardens for summer and plan to lavish their moms on Mother’s Day. As consumers shop for ways to beautify their homes — both inside and out — they often find themselves asking, “Where was this product grown?” For many potted plants, bedding plants and cut flowers, the answer to that question is Canada. Canada has emerged as a key... Read more